Arbor Day 2017

In 1872, J. Sterling Morton started what would become Arbor Day in Nebraska City. Nebraska. This "holiday" is meant to recognize and support the planting of trees. Morton and his wife Caroline challenged people around the country to plant trees. In 1872, on the first Arbor Day, approximately one million trees were planted in Nebraska alone. National Arbor Day is celebrated every year on the last Friday in April; it is a civic holiday in Nebraska. Other states have selected the time of year in which to celebrate their own Arbor Day. The customary observance is to plant a tree. On the first Arbor Day, April 10, 1872, an estimated one million trees were planted.

I didn't plant any trees today, and there was no public event associated with Arbor Day here. But you know me, I'm a born treehugger and I celebrate trees (and birds, and flowers, and all Nature) every day. In any case, I went for a walk in the Dykeman Spring Nature Park to go say hello to some of my favorite trees, and along the way there were some other natural wonders to get pictures of.

A big Pin Oak in the park near the picnic area

Looking across the wetland to the trees, with a very large Maple in the middle next to the north duck pond

A very large Norway Maple that hangs over the creek by the railroad embankment

Tree reflections in the north duck pond

Hey guys, there's room for one more on the log!

Celandine on the forest floor along the Dykeman Walking Trail

In 1990 the late John Denver wrote a song for the National Arbor Day Foundation, with whom he made a TV commercial promoting the holiday and the planting of trees. I thought this would be the perfect way to wrap up this post. Now go plant a tree, or sit under one and meditate, or wander among a whole forest of them. Whatever you do today, make some time to celebrate trees!

© 2017 by A. Roy Hilbinger